N0K7S442.jpg (47586 bytes)Kongo (Bakongo, Bashikongo, Kakongo),  Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Private Nail Fetish. Nail fetishes are a unique and important phenomenon of Kongo sculpture. All these fetishes are called nkisi. Nkisi means “medicine”. Historically, there were two types of nkisi, public and private, with some having vital democratizing roles, as sources of empowerment for rural residents and individuals outside the court. In order to face certain trials (illness, conflict, sterility, sorcery, etc), the Kongo take recourse in this type of object. Inserting nails or pieces of metal into the nkisi activates the figure to bring destruction to those who do not fulfill their end of the pact, oath, or treaty. Thus they attempt to resolve their problem, or to intimidate or punish the individual responsible for it. An nkisi is made by a sculptor who works together with a nganga (ritual expert). The sculptor carves a male figure. Next, the nganga completes the figure by placing the ingredients that have positive or negative power in an abdominal cavity made by the sculptor. These ingredients are ‘carriers’ for a variety of magical objects, which can be sand, roots or leaves, or other objects.

Material:  wood, nails, metal pieces, glass, tissue

Size:  13”x6”x.5½”

 

 

 

 

 

 

N0K7S442S.jpg (40219 bytes)N0K7S442R.jpg (37150 bytes)